Do I need to chink or caulk my “chinkless” style log home?
The short answer is you probably will – if not now, then later. Here’s why. Often log home builders and manufacturers design their homes to fit tightly together – no chink line is required. This is a look that appeals to many customers. Generally, when the logs are stacked, an “internal” seal is installed (either a bead of caulking between the logs, a butyl tape, or something similar to insure a water – and air – tight home.) to insure a water tight home. Two things happen over the next few years. First, as the logs dry out to their final moisture level, they move. This movement sometimes breaks the initial internal seals between the logs allowing cold air, bugs, and water to come into the home. It is difficult to tell exactly where the seal is broken, so spot repairs are sometimes not effective. At this point, some homeowners choose to caulk the home between log courses to fully seal it up. Conceal is an ideal product for caulking these joints because it is textured and matched to the
